Brian Bennett – Ashington CC correspondent

They brushed the hosts aside to secure an eight wickets win on Saturday.

Home skipper Nick Denton won the toss and elected to take first strike, but Russell Hughes and Callum Batey found runs hard to come by in the early stages.

In the eighth over, Adam Nichol swooped at square leg to send a throw to wicketkeeper Daniel Grant which led to the run out of Batey, and although Hughes began to open up, Alnmouth were dealt another blow in the 18th over when Ian Pearson was bowled in Matty Collins’ second over from the pavilion end.

Tom Vickers joined Hughes and showed his intentions immediately as he struck his first ball to the boundary.

At 69-2 at drinks, left hander Hughes completed a fine half century in the 29th over but became the second run out victim of the afternoon shortly after.

The batting pair set off for a second but Ben O’Brien’s accurate throw to Grant saw Hughes forced to depart for 54.

Grant threw down the wicket to end Vickers’ stint at the crease for 33, and after Johnny Ridley had returned a catch to Anirudh Singh, the glove man continued to be heavily involved, effecting three stumpings off spinner Paul Rutherford to send back Paul Straker, Ben Oliver and Charles Anderson (24) as the hosts closed on 167-8.

In reply, Neil Wood and Singh were outscored in the early stages by a succession of byes and leg byes, but nevertheless the pair scorched an opening partnership of 136.

Singh, who crossed 1,000 runs for the season when he advanced to 43, reached his 50 before an action packed 20th over.

From the third ball, Wood swept his tenth boundary which brought up his half century, but next ball he lofted bowler Straker and was caught on the deep mid-wicket boundary by Ridley.

The batsmen crossed and when Straker sent down another delivery which rapped Singh on the pads, the overseas player was given out lbw for 58.

Ben O’Brien (18 not out) staved off the hat-trick ball and in partnership with Jack Jessop (16 not out), the pair led Ashington home after exactly 28 overs.